Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a printed circuit board. In an embodiment, the method includes forming a prepreg layer via a reel method, forming a conductive film for forming a circuit pattern on at least one surface of the prepreg layer; and forming a predetermined circuit pattern on the conductive film. In an embodiment, the prepreg layer has a thickness of at most about 0.15 mm and contains a fiber material and a resin material. In an embodiment, the content of the resin material in the prepreg layer is about 70% or less by volume. In an embodiment, the prepreg layer is composed of at least one prepreg layer.

Abstract: A camera operating apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a signal processor for rotating and storing a shot image so that a storage direction of the image shot with the camera rotated 90° or 180° may be a reference storage direction. The shot image is stored in such a way that a storage direction of the image shot with the camera rotated may be the reference storage direction, which provides convenience that a user needs not to rotate the camera to check the shot image when playing the image.

Abstract: A cutting tool insert particularly for turning of steel comprising a body and a coating with a first (innermost) layer system of at least two layers of TiCxNyOz with x+y+z?1 with a total thickness of from about 0.7 to about 4.5 ?m, a second layer system to a large extent consisting of Al2O3 and an outermost layer system comprising one or several layers in sequence of TiCxNy (x+y?1) with individual thicknesses of greater than about 0.15 to about 0.8 ?m and a layer with Al2O3 with a thickness greater than about 0.1 to about 0.4 ?m with a total thickness of the outermost layer system thinner than about 2.5 ?m and a total thickness of the coating in the range of from about 2.0 to about 12.0 ?m.

Abstract: An image sensing unit with an improved structure and a digital camera adopting the same are provided. The image sensing unit for a digital camera includes a light-receiving surface having a plurality of pixel sensors arranged regularly on a two-dimensional region of a predetermined size, a scanning electronic circuit that outputs light incident onto the pixel sensors as an electric image signal that has undergone photoelectric conversion, and a color filter mosaic separated at a predetermined distance from the light-receiving surface in the light incidence direction. Here, the light-receiving surface is divided into a chromatic sensing element for receiving chromatic light entering through the color filter mosaic and the achromatic sensing element for receiving directly incident achromatic light that has not passed through the color filter mosaic. The digital camera adopting the image sensing unit can achieve smooth automatic focusing in a low brightness environment.

Abstract: An optical pickup has a light source for emitting a plurality of laser beams with different wavelengths; and an objective lens for focusing the laser beams emitted from the light source on recording surfaces of plural types of information recording media. A diffractive lens structure is provided in a light path of the laser beam, the structure including ring zone areas divided by a plurality of phase steps for correcting a wavefront aberration of the laser beam, a diameter of an outermost phase step of the diffractive lens structure is smaller than a second largest effective diameter of effective diameters required for reproduction of the plural types of information recording media.

Abstract: A patient incline device includes an incline ramp and a centerline spinal support located on a base member. The incline ramp supports the upper torso and head of a patient such that the upper torso and head are elevated with respect to the base member. The centerline support is located adjacent the inline ramp for contact with a central portion of the patient's back located adjacent the spine to elevate the central back portion. According to one embodiment, the incline ramp and the spinal support are inflatable. The width of the spinal support is less than that of the incline ramp to define lateral spaces along opposite sides of the centerline support to receive the arms and side portions of the patient for lateral extension of the chest wall.

Abstract: The radiation image conversion panel in accordance with the present invention has an aluminum substrate; an alumite layer formed on a surface of the aluminum substrate; a metal film, provided on the alumite layer, having a radiation transparency and a light reflectivity; a protective film covering the metal film and having a radiation transparency and a light transparency; and a converting part provided on the protective film and adapted to convert a radiation image.

Abstract: Provided are a laser flip-chip bonding method having high productivity and excellent bonding reliability and a flip-chip bonder employing the same. The flip-chip bonder includes: a bonding stage on which a substrate rests; a bonding head picking up a semiconductor chip and attaching the semiconductor chip to the substrate; and a semiconductor chip heating unit heating the semiconductor chip to a bonding temperature. The semiconductor chip heating unit includes: a laser light source; and a lens assembly refracting a laser beam emitted by the laser light source to a top surface of the semiconductor chip so that a central position of the laser beam varies across the top surface of the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: Guard electrodes 2 which are electrically connected with a conductive portion of a cooling water passage 23 through connection lines 3 are respectively provided in the middle of a water inlet pipe 1 connected with a water inlet master pipe 10 and a water outlet pipe 6 connected with a water outlet master pipe 13 in M pieces of semiconductor laser units 4. At this time, since the guard electrode 2 has a potential equal to the conductive portion of the cooling water passage 23, the electric current hardly flows between the guard electrode 2 and the conductive portion of the cooling water passage 23. As a result, rusting is inhibited in the M pieces of semiconductor laser units 4, and a clogged piping is prevented in the cooling water passage 23.

Abstract: A [DNA encoding a] flavone synthase that synthesizes flavones from flavanones, vectors containing said DNAs encoding said flavone synthases, and plants expressing same are disclosed. Methods of producing the protein which synthesizes flavones from flavanones, methods of altering the composition of flavonoids or the amount of flavonoids in a plant, methods of altering flower color and plant photosensitivity, and methods of controlling interactions between plants expressing the protein and microorganisms are also disclosed.

Abstract: The radiation image conversion panel in accordance with the present invention has an aluminum substrate; an alumite layer formed on a surface of the aluminum substrate; a chromium layer covering the alumite layer; a metal film, provided on the chromium layer, having a radiation transparency and a light reflectivity; an oxide layer covering the metal film and having a radiation transparency and a light transparency; a protective film covering the oxide layer and having a radiation transparency and a light transparency; and a converting part provided on the protective film and adapted to convert a radiation image.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel bis-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-anthraquinone conjugates of general formula V, useful as potential antitumour agents against human cancer cell lines. The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of novel bis-pyrrolo[2,1 -c][1,4]benzodiazepine-anthraquinone conjugates of general formula V. wherein n=3, 4, or 5.

Abstract: A method of making high diastereoselective and enantiomerically pure pseudonorephedrine and the hitherto unknown compound (1R,2R) pseudonorephedrine.

Abstract: High melt flow rate high crystallinity polypropylene homopolymer are produced in a bulk polymerization process using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst containing a combination of two internal electron donors and selected external donors. The high melt flow rate, high crystallinity polypropylene homopolymers produced according to the current invention display improved flexural modulus and tensile yield stress when nucleated.

Abstract: In this spectral instrument, a plurality of interference filters 31, 32 . . . with transmitting wavebands different from each other are arranged in order so that light reflected by a specific interference filter 31 is made incident on the interference filter 32 on the next stage, and at positions on which light transmitted through each interference filter is made incident, photodetecting devices 41, 42 . . . are provided, wherein a silver thin film 31a with a thickness of 20 to 200 nm is provided on the light incidence surface side of the interference filter 31 on the first stage.

Abstract: In a digital camera including a digital signal processing portion processing a digital image and a display device displaying the image according to a digital signal from the digital signal processing portion, and a control portion controlling overall operation, after the user takes a picture, image data is analyzed by the digital signal processing portion to determine picture quality and, when it is determined that the picture quality is inadequate, the user is informed of information regarding the quality of the picture.

Abstract: An enhanced circuit-switched media transmission over packet-switched, or Internet Protocol, access networks. Access legs of calls between terminal devices are monitored at a gateway positioned at the interface between packet-switched and circuit-switched networks. Access legs are identified which connect terminal devices residing in the same access network through monitoring of media data transmission. Terminal devices with identified connections are instructed to communicate directly while the gateway maintains the connection on the circuit-switched network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a percussion device comprising two percussion pistons alternately making a percussion motion and a control valve for controlling the percussion pistons. The control valve (7) comprises a slide (8) affected by a force so that the slide is generally in a first position, but moves at the end of the percussion motion of the first percussion piston from the first position to a second position and correspondingly back to the first position at the end of the percussion motion of the second percussion piston (4).

Abstract: A robot provided with a robot mechanism including a first member and a second member, the first member and the second member being movable relative to each other; and a laying structure for laying an umbilical member in the robot mechanism. The robot includes the umbilical member laid to extend between the first member and the second member; a movable clamp member movably provided in the first member to clamp the umbilical member; and a connecting member for connecting the movable clamp member to the second member in a correlatively movable manner. The connecting member transmits a force generating due to a movement of the second member relative to the first member to the movable clamp member, so as to move the clamp member in the first member.